Latest news with #FionaSimpson
The Guardian
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Queensland public servants forbidden from including acknowledgments of country in email signatures, Labor says
Queensland's Labor opposition claims the state's public servants have been issued a 'strict directive' not to include acknowledgments of country in email signatures. The shadow minister for reconciliation, Leeanne Enoch, tabled a partly redacted document in question time on Thursday which reads: 'Departments are no longer permitted to add additional departmental branding elements such as the First Nations acknowledgement.' Enoch said the document was sent by a whistleblower within a government department, and prohibited modifying standard signature blocks in any way. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Enoch is one of two Indigenous members of parliament, both of them Labor MPs. She said the decision was 'an insult to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people'. 'Under this Crisafulli LNP government we've seen a systematic attempt to erase Aboriginal and Torres Strait people from all aspects of government life. And this is just another attempt at doing that,' Enoch said on Thursday. 'What happens if you are an Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander person working in a department? Are you not allowed to follow your own cultural protocols?' Fiona Simpson, the minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships, denied that the government had 'issued a directive to departments prohibiting a First Nations acknowledgement in email signatures'. Earlier on Thursday, deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie was asked if the government intended to honour the Indigenous heritage of the site of their planned Olympics stadium. 'The golf club?' he said. Barrambin, also known as Victoria park, had been the town camp for the north part of Brisbane and is a massacre site. Part of it served as a golf club from 1931 to 2021. Legislation passed on Wednesday night overrides a swathe of planning and heritage laws to permit construction of the stadium. Blejie said the legislation still includes a provision honouring cultural heritage laws 'because we do recognise a historical connection', but did not commit to a cultural centre or other physical acknowledgement. The stoush comes just days after stinging criticism of the speaker of the state's legislative assembly, Pat Weir. Since 2007, upon opening parliament, the speaker has acknowledged the traditional owners of the land on which parliament assembles. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion But Weir acknowledges 'the former members of this parliament who have participated in and nourished the democratic institutions of this state' and 'the people of this state, whether they have been born here or have chosen to make this state their home'. On Tuesday, Greens MP Michael Berkman said the acknowledgment had been 'watered down almost beyond recognition' since last year's change of government 'to the point of being insipid, offensive and feigned'. 'It is the acknowledgment you give when you want to be offensive.' Weir said he had adapted the wording to make it more inclusive. 'The intention is not to 'water down' the acknowledgment, the intention is to be inclusive of all nationalities that have helped develop this state,' he said. 'I come from Irish heritage. If there were any doubts on my decision, when I listened to the maiden speeches of new members, whose families come from England, Scotland, Pakistan, Greece and Northern Ireland, that is exactly the reason I did it. 'I have used the more inclusive acknowledgment statement since the start of the parliamentary term and note that the member for Maiwar has not raised his concerns directly with me.' The Liberal National party's first act in government was to cancel the state's pathway to treaty process and close its truth-telling and healing inquiry.
ABC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Calls to make 'mind-blowing' Sunshine Coast coral reef a marine reserve
Support is growing to limit or ban fishing around a "mind-blowing" reef in south-east Queensland as authorities install moorings to protect the vulnerable coral. The Queensland government will create up to 15 mooring points near Mudjimba Island, off the Sunshine Coast, so boaties can visit without their anchors damaging the coral beneath. However, there are no restrictions on anchoring in the area. The campaign for the mooring points has been supported by councillors, divers, regular visitors and Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson. The moorings were an election promise by the LNP while in opposition last year and are fully funded in this week's Budget. Ms Simpson said they were a "great example of environmental tourism" and would be installed over the next 12 months as weather allowed. "The locals already know how great it is and they're the ones who suggested that we have these moorings as safe places to have boats, to be able to visit and not rip up the coral with their anchors," she said. Jodi Salmond, of environmental charity Reef Check Australia, said anyone seeing photos of Mudjimba Island corals without knowing the location could easily assume it was the Great Barrier Reef. "We actually have a beautiful mix of both soft corals and hard corals that are growing there," she said. University of Queensland Associate Professor Chris Roelfsma was part of the team that explored Sunshine Coast reefs through COVID lockdowns, only to discover they were far bigger than expected. "The reef is mind-blowing — there's so much coral," he said. Ms Salmond said the moorings would make a big difference but designating it a reserve would give the reef permanent protection. "We're not trying to make people stop visiting these areas because we really believe that it's that true connection with water and nature that means people feel a need to protect and appreciate those areas." Ms Salmond said legislation would determine restrictions at the reserve, but making it a no-fishing area "would be fantastic" and most likely increase the numbers of fish in surrounding areas. The idea also has support from Sunshine Coast councillor Joe Natoli. "There are no marine parks from, basically, Moreton Island [off Brisbane] all the way through to the Sandy Cape," he said. "Creatures need areas where they can basically replenish in stock and, as a fisherman, I know that … Sunshine Coast fish stocks are dwindling." Dr Roelfsma said, while anchor damage was obvious, there were no indications of over-fishing on the reef just yet. But he said banning fishing from the reef would be worthwhile. "It's also been shown if one area is protected really well, it has a flow-over on other areas." Ms Simpson said introducing restrictions to protect the reef would be a "conversation further in the future". "In time, with the pressure that we're seeing upon a lot of our environment, that may be something that comes," she said. "I don't think it's appropriate to go and just say you're going to impose it without that conversation. "It's very important that people know there's continued access to this reef."
